The FCC under the Obama administration has been making some blustery moves in pursuing telecommunication companies for putting the squeeze on their customers. They recently questioned the mobile industry on the absurd prices of text messages, which are essentially free for mobile providers to send, and now they’re issuing a warning to big ISPs that their patience with rising broadband subscription rates is waning.

FCC Commisioner Mignon Clyburn explained the agency’s beef in a public statement on Wednesday: “When prices rise across the industry, and where there are only a limited number of players in the game, we have to ask ourselves whether there is any meaningful competition in the marketplace,”

She continued: “Moreover, when executives from major broadband providers indicate that they will only roll out faster speeds in the few markets where they have competition, our fears about whether meaningful competition exists should grow.”

“Across-the-board price increases,” she added, “especially on those who can least afford it, should raise a red flag for the Commission.”

You know, I just really, really like Obama’s FCC.

Right on. I couldn’t have put it better myself. If prices rise across an entire industry, and no company looks to distinguish itself over its competitors by offering a better deal, it’s natural to suspect price fixing… even if that’s not really the case. That’s just what the FCC should be on the lookout for.